Survivors Of Catholic Sex Abuse Move To Out 'Predator Priest'

Bay City News Service

Published
6:31 pm PDT, Thursday, October 11, 2018

OAKLAND (BCN)

Survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church, alongside a former member of the clergy, held a news conference this afternoon outside the Oakland Diocese to "out" who one survivor says is a "predator priest."

Joey Piscitelli, Northern California leader for Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said he was repeatedly molested by Father Stephen Whelan in 1969 and 1970 - when Piscitelli was just 14.

Piscitelli says discussing his experience is traumatic, but he also finds it therapeutic, and hopes that his advocacy can reduce the likelihood of others from being victimized by the church.

"If I can just save one kid," Piscitelli said.

He said he organized today's news conference after learning that Whelan has been assigned to work for the Institute of Salesian Studies at Don Bosco Hall in Berkeley.

A spokesperson for the diocese said that Whelan is a member of the Salesian order who has never been an employee priest or employee of the Diocese of Oakland.

They referred questions about that to the Salesian Order, which did not immediately respond to a request for information. But Piscitelli says that all priests within the diocese's boundaries answer to Bishop Michael Barber - and he wants Barber to do more.

That sentiment also motivates Tim Stier, a former pastor, who said he protests outside the nearby Cathedral of Christ the Light every Sunday. He became an advocate after hearing a victim's story about being molested by a priest.

"It was like Saint Paul on the road to Damascus," Stier said. "My eyes were opened."

The diocese made headlines this week by announcing that it plans to release a list of "credibly accused" priests, following a similar announcement from the San Jose Diocese last month.

Stier says they're doing so to prevent their followers from leaving the church, taking their money and financial offerings.

"It's like this bishop, all these bishops, have suddenly found religion," Stier said.